Washington: Bilateral issues including growing defence cooperation between United States and India figured prominently during talks between Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in Washington.

"During the meeting, they discussed bilateral issues and expressed satisfaction at the pace of progress of the growing defence cooperation between the two countries", a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Washington said on June 8.

"In a very special gesture, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld came to meet Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani at his hotel on June 8, as Rumsfeld was going to be travelling out of Washington DC", the statement said, adding "The Deputy Prime Minister has greatly appreciated this gesture".

"Secretary Rumsfeld raised the question of India contributing troops for the stabilisation of Iraq. The Deputy Prime Minister said that this matter was under the consideration of the government of India and that a decision will be taken after taking all aspects into account", it said.

The next meeting of the US-India Defence Policy Group has been proposed on August 6 and 7 in Washington", the statement added.

Rumsfeld called on Advani at his hotel shortly after the Indian leader arrived in Washington from New York on a weeklong official visit to this country.

PTI